Click to PRAY FOR OUR PASTOR & LEADERS:
Please see at the end of this Prayer Letter, a section from our Intercessory Prayer Partners with scripture to pray over Pastor Gregory and our Elders.
Or click on the title to take you directly to the page. Thank you for your prayers!
Please see at the end of this Prayer Letter, a section from our Intercessory Prayer Partners with scripture to pray over Pastor Gregory and our Elders.
Or click on the title to take you directly to the page. Thank you for your prayers!
John 13.34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Jeremiah 33.3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
I attended a celebration of life service for a young man who passed away unexpectedly. His family – siblings, mom, and wife - all spoke, as did his father-in-law, sister-in-law, and a family friend. Each person spoke with joy of the faith this young man had. He lived his life trusting in God, caring for others, and telling his family as often as he could, that he loved them. There were tons of pictures and stories. So much laughter. And there were a lot of tears.
When I’m at a memorial service, I often think, wouldn’t it be nice for the deceased to have heard all of these kind words, to hear how much they were loved and now missed, to know how deeply valued they were to their friends and family. At this service for the young man, I didn’t feel that. I knew he knew, when he was alive, how his family loved him. Each person that spoke shared the letters they exchanged, the words they often spoke to each other, and the love that was shared. This family (both of the deceased and of his wife) doesn’t seem to hesitate in sharing their feelings and caring for one another. It was quite moving.
Many of you commented on the book I referenced last week, “Theo of Golden”. You’ll remember the main character, Theo, was also a man who made sure as often as he could to look into people’s eyes, speak words of affirmation, find a truth (God’s truth) to speak into their life as encouragement, and to show kindness. In this time where our world seems so crazy, too many times over sensationalized, and often focusing on division – we get to choose to love one another as God calls us to. To love our neighbor – to help. To listen. To speak words of affirmation. To slow down, look into their eyes, and to see them – this person God created on purpose and for a purpose.
If we accept God’s “challenge” to love, it may look like….finding ourselves looking closer at a family member, or the grocery store clerk that helps us weekly, maybe it will be someone we don’t particularly agree with in our small group or at work, or…. maybe it will be when we look in the mirror.
The encouragement this week is to ask the Holy Spirit to give us a word to share with the person, the Lord is bringing to our mind. Or a hug. Or decide to take an extra moment to hear about their day without offering advice (I plugged that in for myself!). Or maybe like the young man who was celebrated last week, we might find ourselves writing a letter, or two.
Let’s enjoy the adventure!
Ericka
Jeremiah 33.3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
I attended a celebration of life service for a young man who passed away unexpectedly. His family – siblings, mom, and wife - all spoke, as did his father-in-law, sister-in-law, and a family friend. Each person spoke with joy of the faith this young man had. He lived his life trusting in God, caring for others, and telling his family as often as he could, that he loved them. There were tons of pictures and stories. So much laughter. And there were a lot of tears.
When I’m at a memorial service, I often think, wouldn’t it be nice for the deceased to have heard all of these kind words, to hear how much they were loved and now missed, to know how deeply valued they were to their friends and family. At this service for the young man, I didn’t feel that. I knew he knew, when he was alive, how his family loved him. Each person that spoke shared the letters they exchanged, the words they often spoke to each other, and the love that was shared. This family (both of the deceased and of his wife) doesn’t seem to hesitate in sharing their feelings and caring for one another. It was quite moving.
Many of you commented on the book I referenced last week, “Theo of Golden”. You’ll remember the main character, Theo, was also a man who made sure as often as he could to look into people’s eyes, speak words of affirmation, find a truth (God’s truth) to speak into their life as encouragement, and to show kindness. In this time where our world seems so crazy, too many times over sensationalized, and often focusing on division – we get to choose to love one another as God calls us to. To love our neighbor – to help. To listen. To speak words of affirmation. To slow down, look into their eyes, and to see them – this person God created on purpose and for a purpose.
If we accept God’s “challenge” to love, it may look like….finding ourselves looking closer at a family member, or the grocery store clerk that helps us weekly, maybe it will be someone we don’t particularly agree with in our small group or at work, or…. maybe it will be when we look in the mirror.
The encouragement this week is to ask the Holy Spirit to give us a word to share with the person, the Lord is bringing to our mind. Or a hug. Or decide to take an extra moment to hear about their day without offering advice (I plugged that in for myself!). Or maybe like the young man who was celebrated last week, we might find ourselves writing a letter, or two.
Let’s enjoy the adventure!
Ericka
from the week of april 27, 2026
Praises
- We are blessed with dear friends’ gifts of time.
- God has provided in surprising ways, blessing us.
- We love our choir!
- Praise God for allowing us to be part of my sister's life these past seven years. We were blessed to see how God can and does go after His lost Sheep and then transform a life to His honor and glory! All glory be to God!
- Thankful for a hunger for God's word and daily Bible reading. I get something new each time I read from His gift to me.
- Thank you to those that have offered prayers of healing, my back is feeling better every day, and I’m able to do more for myself.
- Thanks to our staff who do so much for us as a congregation.
- Praise for our new granddaughter, Thea Joy Whitmore, born Saturday. Both mom and baby are doing well!
- I praise God for so very many blessings. It is hard to fathom how deep, how high, how long and how wide is the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.
- It’s so wonderful to see the excitement of new Christians hungry for the Lord. I am astonished every day with God’s goodness, full of gratitude for all His blessings. It’s beyond the beyond.
- Praise the Lord for everything You’re doing in E and his anxiety. Praying it continues to go up from here for him. Release him from all worry.
- Wow, my life has changed these last 3 years. I am truly blessed with a wonderful partner, children, friends and church. I was so broken and because of You I can move forward. Thank You so much.
Prayers
- Comfort for the family of Lillian Banks-Nissen who passed away recently.
- Healing for the pain of losing my sister. She was precious to me! Help us put our lives back together and move forward. We now have a huge hole to fill with the loss we have just had.
- Healing for my husband who is struggling in ways I don’t understand.
- Please pray for my friend that is in the deep grip of depression, may he see light in his moment of darkness. For those in pain, mental and physical, may they experience release and relief, so they can enjoy the gifts everyday offers.
- We need prayers for being alert to the Spirit's prompts.
- Praise God for Ghormley. Bless this summer in all ways-all the campers and staff. May many hearts be turned to Jesus and receive Him in their lives.
- Healing prayer for I’s great nephew R who has been diagnosed with brain cancer.
- Healing for J who broke his arm and is recovering from illness. Prayers for good rest for the whole family.
- Pray for safety on a 2-week road trip adventure to the Southwest. His safety and protection.
- Pray for my cold symptoms to resolve fully so we can go see the new baby.
- Lord, thank you for continuing to show Your direction with our business and continue to direct the community to us.
- Lord, please cover my daughter, A, with Your guidance, love, support and fill her with your knowledge and guide her to a relationship with You and show her Your wonderous joy! Help her to see we need her back in the families life.
- Blessings for the work of Camp Ghormley to continue to show the love of God to those in the valley that need to hear the word.
- Prayers for our family as our cousin D has passed on to be with Jesus.
- Yay, I made it to church on time. My PCP has helped me come up with a schedule.
- Prayers for my sister as she moves into a retirement home. Prayers for my brother and sister-in-law.
- Please pray for our daughter that the doctors will find out whatever is wrong with her and be able to treat it so she can get her life back again.
- Prayers for traveling mercies for all traveling.
- Pray for son T to make good choices and decisions in his life.
- Thank you to the Lord. It has been a rough week with my sinuses, but not impossible. Thank you that my exams have come out and are good. Bless my family, the church family and the pastoral family.
- Prayers for my friends L & E, D & L. They all need patience, strength and most of all peace. Thank you so much for your prayers.
- Please pray for a young lady, JC, that recently reached out to my wife. She had a tumultuous upbringing and is distanced from her parents. She has wavered in her faith and has been very depressed. Please pray for her and my wife L as they reconnect.
- Please pray for my friend J who had a partial lobectomy last year and has been having a difficult recovery. Please pray for God’s healing and peace.
- Prayers for M’s symptoms of fatigue.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH AND CAMP STAFF:
STAFF: (Rev. Dr.) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Noah and Karlie Camp, Richard Hayland, Taylor Miller, Kaeden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Emily Lee, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Meagan Sylvester, Gregory Wagenfuhr, and Joel Whitehead.
STAFF: (Rev. Dr.) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga.
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Noah and Karlie Camp, Richard Hayland, Taylor Miller, Kaeden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Emily Lee, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Meagan Sylvester, Gregory Wagenfuhr, and Joel Whitehead.
Pray for our pastor & leaders
Dear Prayer Partners at Grace,
We invite the Church to join us as we pray these scriptures for Pastor Gregory and for our Elders. (Elders: John, Aaron, Bruce, Michele, Eric, Larry, Janet, Todd, Ana, Rich, and Joe)
Thank you ~ Carla and Sharon, Grace of Christ Intercessors
Praying God’s Word
Psalm 45:3 (a Messianic Psalm — The Bride of Christ
“Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall before you, lying down beneath your feet. Your Divine throne O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Empowering of the Church
Ephesians 3:14-21
“When we think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, we fall to our knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give us mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And we pray that Christ will be more and more at home in our hearts as we trust in Him. May our roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may we have the power to understand how, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is so great we will never fully understand it. Then we will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now, glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be given glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen"
We invite the Church to join us as we pray these scriptures for Pastor Gregory and for our Elders. (Elders: John, Aaron, Bruce, Michele, Eric, Larry, Janet, Todd, Ana, Rich, and Joe)
Thank you ~ Carla and Sharon, Grace of Christ Intercessors
Praying God’s Word
Psalm 45:3 (a Messianic Psalm — The Bride of Christ
“Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall before you, lying down beneath your feet. Your Divine throne O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Empowering of the Church
Ephesians 3:14-21
“When we think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, we fall to our knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. We pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give us mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And we pray that Christ will be more and more at home in our hearts as we trust in Him. May our roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may we have the power to understand how, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May we experience the love of Christ, though it is so great we will never fully understand it. Then we will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now, glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be given glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen"
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”